'Spotlight' actor Mark Ruffalo is up against 'Creed' star Sylvester Stallone in the Best Supporting Actor category at the Oscars but wants the Rocky legend to win

The 48-year-old actor is up against the legendary action star - who reprised his most famous role as Rocky Balboa to critical acclaim in 'Creed' - in the category for his performance in 'Spotlight' but is rooting for his rival to win the prize.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the London premiere of the film at Curzon Mayfair on Wednesday night (20.01.16), he said: "I feel great about the Oscar nominations. Anyone can win I guess but my favourite to go home with it is Sylvester Stallone."

'Spotlight' sees Ruffalo play Michael Rezendes, a journalist for the Boston Globe newspaper, alongside Rachel McAdams - who has been given a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her performance.

Michael Keaton and Liev Schreiber also star in the Tom McCarthy-directed movie about the real life team of investigative reporters who delved into the cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in the city.

And Ruffalo says he has often wondered what it would be like to be a journalist because he has a lot of respect for the profession.

Asked would he have liked to be a journalist, he mused: "I've dreamt about it. I play them in movies. It was an amazing cast, it was really the best of the best. But the movie shows how powerful this journalism is when it´s done the right way and given the right resources."

Ruffalo was joined on the 'Spotlight' red carpet by his co-stars Stanley Tucci and Michael Keaton and director Tom McCarthy.